Alarm device



Sept. 29, 1925.

' 1,555,569 c. w. HALLBERG ALARM DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,569

c. w. HALLBERG ALARM DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,569

0. w. HALLBERG ALARM DEVICE Filed Sept. 12 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. E

Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES CLAUS W. HALLBERG, OF MARION, INDIANA.

ALARM DEVICE.

Application filed September 12, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUs V. HALLnnRo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to alarm devices, particularly to that class in which a clock controls the electrical circuit for an alarm device such as a buzzer.

One of the important objects of the invention is to eliminate switch mechanism on the inside of the clock and to provide compact switch'mechanism which can be readily applied on the outside of the clock for controlling the various circuits. Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp for the clock which can be lighted at any time by means of a simple switch to illuminate the clock, and which lamp will be automatically included in circuit whenthe alarm circuit is closed so that the person can observe the time and provide him with lightfor turning off the alarm. v

The above and other features of my invention are fully described in the following specification. On the drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improvcd device,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper part of the device partly broken away,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view on plane 4 4, Fig. 2 of the upper part of the device,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-4), Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66, Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 7, Fig. 4 and Fig. 8 diagramn'iatically represents the various operating parts and the controlling circuit therefor.

The clock shown comprises the cylindrical enclosing housing 10 within which is the framework 11 for supporting the various clock trains, ctcf Only that part of the clock works which is necessary for illustrating my invention, is shown. I have shown the setting shaft 12 for the pointer 13 which Serial No. 500,106.

indicates on the alarm dial 1 1, this shaft being turned by the knurled head 15 from the outside of the clock. Inside of the time dial 16 this shaft has secured thereto a disk 17 having a tooth 18. Journaled on the shaft between the adjacent frame 11 and the disk 17 is the hub 19 which carries a spur wheel 20 which is connected with the clock tra n. The hub has the notch 21, and a spring bar 22 secured at one end to the frame 11 presses against the inner end of the hub and tends to hold it with its outer end against the disk 17. After setting the alarm pointer, the notch 21 will come into registration with the pin 18 as soon as the clock indicates the alarm time and then the hub will be pushed forwardly by the spring 22. As the clock train continues to travel the inclined rear edge of the notch will again force the hub away from the tooth 18. F or the purpose of my invention the spring 22 forms a contact member for controlling certain electrical circuits. Behind the spring a contact bar 23 is secured to the clock work frame but is insulated therefrom as shown in Fig. 3. Its lower end is bent to provide the contact point 24 in front of the free end of the spring 22, this spring at its other end being secured to the clock work frame in electrical contact therewith.

On top of the clock casing I mount my improved switching mechanism for controlling various electrical circuits. The various contact and controlling members are supported on a base 25 and a cover 26, the base being of insulating material, and the cover 'when the clock work is inserted into the clock housing. The plate 27 is therefore at all times in electrical connection with the contact point 24 which (o-operates with the contact spring plate 22.

Adjacent to one end of the plate 27 the plate 31 (Figs. 5 and 8) is secured on the base 25 and has the spring contact arm 32 which extends parallel with the plate 27 and has the contact point 33 at its end for co-operating with the upstanding contact wall 34 on the plate '27. Adjacent to the plate 31 the plate 35 is secured on the base 25 and has the spring arm 36 provided with the contact point 37 which extends toward the spring arm 32 but is normally disconnected therefrom. Secured to the clock housing 10 and extending upwardly therefrom through the base 25 is the contact stud 38 which is normally engaged by the spring arm 36.

Secured at one end to the top of the cover 26 at the inside thereof is the contact spring 39 whose free end is deflected downwardly to form the contact point 40 above the plate 35. Extending through the opening 41 1n the top of the cover is the shank 42 having the button 43 at its lower end and the knurled head 44 at its upper end. The cover adjacent the opening 41 is raised to form the pocket 45 extending parallel with the sprin arm 39. The button 43 is elongated an the spring 39 normally holds the button lengthwise in the pocket 45. When the button is turned to extend crosswise of the pocket 45 it will be depressed and will force the spring 39 down with its contact point 40 against the plate 35.

The cover top has also the lug 46 extending upwardly for receiving the stem 47 having the head 48 and the end 49 of insulating material. The end is above the contact spring 32, this spring having the lip 50 (Fig. 5) against which the end 49 engages when the button is depressed, the spring being then swung to carry its contact 33 away from the contact wall 34 on the plate 27, the spring 32 being swung a sufficient distance to also disengage the spring arm 36 from the contact 38.

Extending from the top of housing 26 and electrically connected therewith is the bracket 51. Secured against the underside of this bracket but insulated therefrom is the strip 52 which carries a socket 53 for a lamp bulb 54, the strip 52 being resilient to press the contact 55 of the lamp against the bracket 51. The strip 52 also supports a reflector 56 for the lamp. By being secured to the cover 26 the bracket 51 is in electrical connection with the contact arm 39 controlled by the button 44, and the strip 52 has the terminal 57 extending down through the hole 58 in the cover for connection with a conductor as shown in Fig. 4.

To the underside of the clock casing 10 is secured a bracket 59 (Fig. 1) in which is supported a battery 60. One terminal of the battery extends into the clock casing and is connected with the bar 61 (Fig. 8) insulated from the clock casing and the other terminal of the battery extends to the clock casing and connects with the terminal plate 62 insulated from the clock casing.

The alarm device 63 preferably in the form of a buzzer, is connected by conductors 64 and 65 respectively with the terminal bar 61 and the clock housing 10. A hook arm 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided on the clock housing from which the alarm device may be hung when not in use. The electrical conductors connecting with the alarm device are flexible and of sufficient length so that the device may be placed below the pillow of the person desiring to be awakened.

The terminal bar 61 is connected by a conductor 67 with the terminal 57 on the strip 52 leading to the socket 53 of the lamp, and a conductor 68 connects the terminal 62 of the battery with the plate 31 on the switch base 25, the conductors extending through the lamp housing and into the switch box through the hole 69 (Figs. 4 and 5).

Describing now the operation, the setting shaft 12 is turned until the pointer 13 indicates on the dial 14 the time at which the user desires to bev awakened. After such setting the tooth 18 will be against the outer face of the hub 19 and the contact spring 22 will be held away from the contact 24 to keep the alarm circuit open, the button 48 being in its upper position. When the time for awakening arrives, the spring 22 will be released and will engage the contact 24 to close the alarm circuit which is traced as follows: Battery 60, bar 61, conductor 64, alarm device 63, conductor 65, clock housing 10, contact spring 22, contact 24, bar 23, arm 28, plate 27, contact wall 34, contact point 33 and arm 32, plate 31, conductor 68, terminal 62, and back to battery 60. The alarm device will then be sounded and the sleeper awakened. If the person desires the lam to be illuminated when the alarm is soun ing, he turns the button 44 before retiring, thus engaging contact arm 39 with the plate 35 and causing the lamp to be connected in multiple with the alarm device through the circuit 38, 36, 35, contact arm 39, cover 26, lamp bracket 51, the lamp, and conductor 67. The light will then shine while the alarm is sounding so that the person may note the time on the clock.

If the person desires to shut off the alarm device after he is awakened, he depresses the button 48 which will result in disconnection of the contact arm 32 from the plate 27, disconnection of the contact arm 36 from the contact 38, and connection of the arm 32 with the arm 36. The alarm circuit is opened by the disengagement of the arm 32 from the plate 27 and disconnection of the arm 36 from the contact 38 prevents reconnection of the alarm device in circuit. If the arm 36 were not disconnected from the contact 38 the alarm device would be connected in the following circuit, battery,

alarm device, housing 10, contact 38, arm 36, arm 32, and conductor 68 to battery. However, disconnection of the arm 36 from the contact 38 prevents the formation of such circuit and the alarm device remains disconnected from circuit.

\Vhen the alarm circuit is opened by pressing down the button 48, another circuit is provided for the lam this circuit being as follows: battery, con uctor 67 lamp, arm 39, plate 35, arm 36, arm 32, conductor 68 back to battery. If it is desired to disconnect the light from circuit, the button 44 is turned to permit the arm 39 to disconnect from the plate 35.

After the alarm ,has been sounded a certain length of time, its circuit will automatically be opened by the clock movement which will disconnect the spring 22 from the contact 24, and the button 48 can then be raised. Such raising of the button will open the light circuit even though the switch 39, 35 is closed. lhe switch 44 is usually kept closed so that before or after the alarm sounds the person may close the light circuit by depressing the button 48, such depression causing only closure of a light circuit, the disconnection of the arm 36 from the contact 38 preventing closure of a circuit through the alarm device as already explained.

lrVith my improved arrangement, the alarm will be sounded and the light simultaneously illuminated so that the awakened person will be furnished with light which enables him to note the time and which will also enable him to readily find the button 48 for opening the alarm circuit.

If he desires to turn off the light when he turns off the alarm, he will turn the but ton 44, or, he can leave the button 44 turned on, wait until the alarm period is terminated, and then raise the button 48, after which he can light the lamp at any time by depressing the button 48.

In my improved arrangement all the switch and contact parts which may need attention are outside of the clock housing where they can be readily reached by removing the cover 26 which is removably held in place by the screws 70.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock, an alarm circuit, a source of current for said circuit, an alarm device in said circuit, contacts operated by the clock movement to control said circuit, a light circuit connected in shunt of said alarm device, a lamp in said light circuit, an independent circuit for said lamp, and switch mechanism operable to open the alarm circuit and said shunt circuit and for closing said independent circuit through said lamp.

2. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock, an alarm circuit, a source of current for said circuit, an alarm device in said circuit, contacts controlled by the clock movement to close said circuit at predetermined periods, a light circuit connected in shunt of said alarm device, a lamp in said shunt circuit, a switch for opening and closing said shunt circuit, a direct circuit for said lamp, and switch mechanism operable to open said alarm circuit and said shunt circuit and to close said direct circuit.

3. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock, an alarm circuit, a source of current for said circuit, an alarm device in said circuit, contact mechanism operated by the clock movement to control said circuit, a light circuit connected in shunt of said alarm device, a lamp in said light circuit, main switch mechanism for opening and closing said alarm circuit independently of said contact mechanism, and secondary switch mechanism controlled upon actuation of said main switch mechanism to open said shunt circuit and to connect said lamp in circuit independently of said contact mechanism.

4. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock comprising the usual enclosing case, an alarm circuit including a flexible connection, an alarm sounding device connected to said circuit by said flexible connection, a light circuit, a lamp in said circuit, a source of current for said circuits secured to said en closing case, and switch mechanism for said circuits compactly mounted directly on said clock case at the exterior thereof.

5. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock comprising the usual enclosing case, an electric alarm circuit including a flexible connection, an alarm sounding device connected to said circuit by said flexible connection, a light circuit, a lamp mounted upon said case and connected with said light circuit, a source of current secured to said enclosing case, a switch box mounted directly upon said clock case at the exterior thereof, and switch mechanism within said box for controlling said circuits,

6. In alarm mechanism of the class described, the combination of a clock, an alarm circuit, an alarm sounding device connected by flexible conductors with said circuit, a light circuit, a lamp for said circuitmounted on said clock, a source of current for said circuit secured to said clock, a switch box on top of said clock, and switch mechanism in said box for controlling said circuits.

7. In an alarm device of the class de scribed, the combination of a clock, an alarm circuit, an alarm sounding de'ice in said circuit. a source of current for said circuit, contacts controlled by the clock movement for opening and closing, said circuit, a light circuit shunted around said alarm sounding device, a lamp in said shunt circuit, a direct circuit for said lamp, switch mechanism operable to open the alarm circuit and close said direct circuit, and an additional switch 0 for controlling either said shunt circuit or said direct circuit.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of September, A. D., 1921.

CLAUS V. HALLBERG. 

